Related Rule
Central African Republic
Practice Relating to Rule 3. Definition of Combatants
The Central African Republic’s Instructor’s Manual (1999) states in Volume 1 (Basic and team leader instruction): “Members of the armed forces (other than medical and religious personnel) are combatants. They are identified by their uniforms or by a recognizable, fixed distinctive sign or, at least, by the fact of carrying arms openly (members of armed forces, militias).”
Central African Republic, Le Droit de la Guerre, Fascicule No. 1: Formation élémentaire toutes armés (FETA), formation commune de base (FCB), certificat d’aptitude technique No. 1 (Chef d’équipe), Ministère de la Défense, Forces Armées Centrafricaines, 1999, Chapter II, Section I, § 1.
The manual also states that the category “Prisoners of War” refers to “Any combatant captured by the enemy.”
Central African Republic, Le Droit de la Guerre, Fascicule No. 1: Formation élémentaire toutes armés (FETA), formation commune de base (FCB), certificat d’aptitude technique No. 1 (Chef d’équipe), Ministère de la Défense, Forces Armées Centrafricaines, 1999, Chapter II, Section I, § 2.
In Volume 2 (Instruction for group and patrol leaders), the manual states: “Wounded, sick or shipwrecked captured combatants are prisoners of war”.
Central African Republic, Le Droit de la Guerre, Fascicule No. 2: Formation pour l’obtention du certificat technique No. 2 (Chef de Groupe), du certificat Inter-Armé (CIA), du certificat d’aptitude de Chef de Patrouille (CACP), Ministère de la Défense, Forces Armées Centrafricaines, 1999, Chapter II, Section III, 3.1; see also Chapter III, Section II, 2.2.
The manual also states: “Captured combatants (whether they have surrendered or not) are prisoners of war and may not be attacked. Prisoner-of-war status is granted from the moment of capture and ends with release.”
Central African Republic, Le Droit de la Guerre, Fascicule No. 2: Formation pour l’obtention du certificat technique No. 2 (Chef de Groupe), du certificat Inter-Armé (CIA), du certificat d’aptitude de Chef de Patrouille (CACP), Ministère de la Défense, Forces Armées Centrafricaines, 1999, Chapter III, Section I.
The Central African Republic’s Disciplinary Regulations (2009) states:
In accordance with the international conventions signed or approved by the Central African Government, it is stipulated that during combat servicemen must:
- consider members of the Armed Forces or of volunteer militias, including organized resistance [movements], as “combatants” as long as these formations have a designated commander, that its members display a distinctive sign, carry arms openly and respect the laws and customs of war.
Central African Republic, Décret 09.411 portant règlement de discipline générale dans les Armées, Ministre de la Défense Nationale, des Anciens Combattants, des Victimes de Guerre, du Désarmement et de la Restructuration de l’Armée, 10 December 2009, Article 12(10).
